Join the Fairmount Park Conservancy and Michael Burch (science educator, community organizer, and founder of the Parkside Journal) for a two-mile walking tour of the Parkside neighborhood.

Parkside. The name says it all – it’s the neighborhood beside West Fairmount Park. Similarly to Strawberry Mansion on the other side of the Schuylkill, Parkside is where the city grid meets the greenspace, buffered by a boulevard of grand homes facing the park. Much of the Parkside neighborhood was built during the 1876 Centennial Exhibition. Originally populated by German-Americans and Jewish immigrants of Russian descent, after World War II, the Great Migration coupled with ‘white flight’ transformed Parkside into a predominantly African-American neighborhood, which it remains to this day. In 1983, community organizers had the neighborhood listed on the National Register of Historic Places because of its cultural legacy and many fine examples of Victorian architecture.

Tour highlights include:
-Please Touch Museum/Memorial Hall
-Smith Memorial Arch
-Parkside Apartments (when built it was one of the tallest apartment buildings in the city)
-Christ Community Baptist Church (built from an old synagogue)
-Lansdowne Apartment Building (built in 1897)
-Centennial Commons
-Philadelphia Stars Negro League Memorial Park and mural

*Special inside behind-the-scenes tours (roughly 15-20 minutes)*

• September 13 only: Please Touch Museum – to view the Centennial Fairgrounds Model
• October 19 only: Shofuso Japanese House and Gardens

TICKET PRICE: $10

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:

• The tour covers about two miles on foot. Not all areas will be ADA-accessible.
• The event is appropriate for adults and families with children ages 12 and up. Minors must be registered and accompanied by an adult.
• Please wear comfortable walking shoes.
• Please dress for weather conditions.
• Bring your own water and snack (drinking water is not available in the park).
• There are a limited number of bathrooms (porta-potties) available along the walking route so please plan accordingly.
• We will leave a few minutes after the scheduled start time. Please arrive at the departure location at least five minutes early. We cannot guarantee that latecomers can join after the group has departed.
• Important pre-event information and any event updates are sent out via email. Please make sure the email address entered is correct and that you check it before coming out to the event.

PARKING/GETTING THERE: There is plenty of free parking available in the park. As always, never leave valuables in your car! 

QUESTIONS? Please reach out to programs@myphillypark.org.

Enjoy our programs? Play it forward for Philly parks! Fairmount Park Conservancy’s Fair Play Campaign is creating healthy park infrastructure, expanding people-centered programs, and preparing our organization for the future. Learn more and get involved at fairplayphilly.org